WO2001042611A1 - Vacuum ig unit with transparent spacers - Google Patents

Vacuum ig unit with transparent spacers Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001042611A1
WO2001042611A1 PCT/US2000/033128 US0033128W WO0142611A1 WO 2001042611 A1 WO2001042611 A1 WO 2001042611A1 US 0033128 W US0033128 W US 0033128W WO 0142611 A1 WO0142611 A1 WO 0142611A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
spacers
substrates
panel
glass
pillars
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/033128
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Steven L. Aggas
Original Assignee
Guardian Industries Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Guardian Industries Corporation filed Critical Guardian Industries Corporation
Priority to JP2001544468A priority Critical patent/JP5046460B2/en
Priority to AU19513/01A priority patent/AU1951301A/en
Priority to DE10085277T priority patent/DE10085277B4/en
Publication of WO2001042611A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001042611A1/en
Priority to DK200200878A priority patent/DK176620B1/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
    • E06B3/6612—Evacuated glazing units
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
    • E06B3/663—Elements for spacing panes
    • E06B3/66304—Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A30/00—Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation
    • Y02A30/24—Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
    • Y02A30/249—Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B80/00—Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings
    • Y02B80/22—Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing

Definitions

  • VACUUM IG UNIT WITH TRANSPARENT SPACERS This invention relates to a vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit. More particularly, this invention relates to a vacuum IG unit including substantially transparent spacers.
  • VACUUM IG WINDOW UNIT WITH FIBER SPACERS are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • Vacuum IG units are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Patent Nos. 5,664,395, 5,657,607, 5,891 ,536 and 5,902.652, the disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • Prior art Figures 1 -2 illustrate a conventional vacuum IG unit.
  • IG unit 1 includes two spaced apart sheets of glass 2 and 3 which enclose an evacuated or low pressure space 16 therebetween. Glass sheets 2 and 3 are interconnected by peripheral or edge seal of fused solder 4 and an array of support pillars 5.
  • Pump out tube 8 is sealed by solder glass 9 to an aperture or hole which passes from an interior surface of glass sheet 2 to the bottom of recess 11.
  • a vacuum is attached to tube 8 (prior to the tube being sealed) so that the interior space 16 between sheets 2 and 3 can be evacuated to create a low pressure area. After evacuation, an end of tube 8 is melted to seal the vacuum in space 16.
  • spacers or pillars 5 are typically provided between the glass sheets 2 and 3 in the viewing area of the unit. As discussed in U.S. Patent No. 5,664,395, these spacers or pillars may be made of nickel, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, titanium, aluminum, steel or stainless alloys. Unfortunately, such metal spacers or pillars are substantially opaque to visible light, and thus may be considered an eyesore (i.e., aesthetically non-pleasing) to those viewing the window because they are scattered throughout the viewing zone.
  • Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of another conventional vacuum IG window unit. This unit differs from that of Figures 1 -2 in that the glass sheets of Fig. 3 are of different sizes, and edge seal 4 contacts an outer vertically extending periphery of one of the glass sheets. However, this unit suffers from the same problems as the unit of Figures 1 -2 as the spacers are the same.
  • An object of this invention is to provide spacers or pillars that are substantially transparent to certain visible wavelengths of light, for use in a vacuum IG window unit. Another object of this invention is to provide aesthetically pleasing and high strength spacers or pillars in a vacuum IG window unit.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide sapphire inclusive spacers or pillars for a vacuum IG window unit.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide AI 2 O 3 inclusive spacers or pillars for a vacuum IG window unit.
  • Another object of this invention is to fulfill any and/or all of the above-listed objects and/or needs.
  • this invention fulfills any or all of the above described objects or needs in the art by providing a thermally insulating glass panel comprising: first and second spaced apart glass substrates defining a low pressure space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure; a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second glass substrates for spacing said substrates from one another in order to maintain said low pressure space therebetween; a hermetic edge or peripheral seal including at least one sealing material; and wherein at least some of said spacers include sapphire so as to be substantially transparent to at least certain wavelengths of visible light.
  • At least some of said spacers are transparent to at least about 90% of visible light wavelengths.
  • Figure 1 is a prior art side partial cross sectional view of a conventional vacuum IG window unit.
  • Figure 2 is a top partial cross sectional view of the Figure 1 vacuum IG unit, absent the top glass substrate.
  • Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of another conventional vacuum IG window unit.
  • Figure 4(a) is a side cross sectional view of a spacer or pillar according to an embodiment of this invention, this spacer or pillar being useable in any of the Figure 1-3 vacuum IG window units.
  • Figure 4(b) is a top plan view of the spacer or pillar of Figure 4(a).
  • Figure 5 is a side cross sectional view of a spacer or pillar according to another embodiment of this invention, this spacer or pillar being useable in any of the Figure 1 -3 vacuum IG window units.
  • the spacers or pillars 5 relate to spacers or pillars 5 for use in vacuum IG window units.
  • the spacers or pillars 5 include sapphire or AI 2 O 3 . This enables the spacers or pillars to be substantially transparent to at least certain visible wavelengths of light, so that they are less visibly obtrusive than conventional opaque spacers.
  • the spacers or pillars are, as in Figures 1 -3, located in the low pressure space 16 between the opposing substrates. Edges of the substrates are hermetically sealed by edge or peripheral seal 4 (e.g. see Figs. 1 -3).
  • FIGS 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate an exemplary spacer or pillar 5 according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • An array of such spacers or pillars 5 is to be provided in the low pressure space of the vacuum IG window unit(s) of any of Figures 1 -3.
  • Figs 4(a)-(b) illustrate a cylindrically-shaped spacer or pillar 5, in other embodiments of this invention the spacers/pillars may take different shapes.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a rectangular shaped spacer/pillar. Because interior space 16 between the opposing substrates is at a pressure lower or less than atmospheric in general, this type of panel is often referred to as a vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit.
  • IG vacuum insulating glass
  • Vacuum IG units may be used as residential or commercial windows.
  • the evacuation of space 16 eliminates or reduces heat transport between glass substrates 2 and 3 due to gaseous conduction and convection.
  • radiative heat transport between glass sheets 2 and 3 can be reduced to a low level by providing a low emittance (low-E) coating(s) 6 on a surface of one or both of sheets 2, 3.
  • Low-E low emittance
  • Low gaseous thermal conduction may be achieved when the pressure in space 16 is reduced to a level equal to or below about 0.5 x 10 ⁇ 3 Torr, more preferably below about 0.1 mTorr, or 10 "4 Torr, and most preferably below about 10 " ⁇ Torr of atmospheric pressure.
  • the hermetic sealing system(s) 4 including one or more edge seals substantially eliminates any ingress or outgress of gas or air to/from low pressure space 16.
  • each pillar may have a height of from about 0.10 to 0.60 mm.
  • Spacers or pillars 5 may take any suitable shape, including those of Figures 4-5.
  • spacers or pillars 5 may be spherical, cylindrical, square, rectangular, rod-like, bead-like, oval, trapezoidal, or the like.
  • spacers/pillars 5 may be shaped as illustrated in any embodiment of U.S. Patent No. 5,891 ,536.
  • all spacers / pillars 5 are of approximately the same size and/or material. However, in other embodiments, there may be different sizes of spacers 5 in the same vacuum IG unit. In certain embodiments, the density of spacers (i.e., the number of spacers per unit area) may be greater in certain areas than in other areas, or alternatively, the density of the spacers may be approximately uniform throughout the entire unit. In preferred embodiments of this invention, spacers or pillars 5 include monocrystalline sapphire or AI 2 O 3 having a hexagonal crystal structure. In other embodiments, spacers or pillars 5 consist essentially of monocrystalline sapphire or AI 2 O 3 having a hexagonal crystal structure.
  • Sapphire which includes substantial portions of AI 2 O 3
  • is of high strength i.e., can withstand the atmospheric pressure applied inwardly on the opposing substrates 2, 3) and is substantially transparent (i.e., at least 80% transparent) to many wavelengths of visible light.
  • spacers 5 are transparent to at least about 90% (most preferably at least about 95%) of visible light wavelengths.
  • spacers/pillars 5 in certain embodiments have a hardness of at least about 7 M (MOHS), more preferably of at least about 9 MOHS (the hardness of sapphire is approximately 9 MOHS).
  • spacers/pillars 5 preferably have a hardness of at least about 2,500 Vickers, more preferably from about 2,500-3,000 Vickers.
  • the sapphire of the spacers may have a density of about 3.90 to 4.00 gm/cm 3 in certain embodiments.
  • sapphire inclusive spacers or pillars 5 are visibly unobtrusive, and more aesthetically pleasing than conventional opaque spacers/pillars. Their translucent properties, similar to a single alumina crystal, and the purity of sapphire, allow the diffusion transmission of a large portion (all in certain embodiments) of visible wavelengths of light (compared to opaque metal and ceramic pillars).
  • spacers / pillars 5 may instead include or be made of quartz, mica, or any other suitable material.
  • hermetic edge sealing material 4 may be made of or include any of the following materials: solder glass, indium, Ostalloy 313- 4, 99% indium (In) wire available from Arconium (Providence, Rl), liquid glass (i.e. glass composition with water in it when applied, wherein the water evaporates when heated to form the seal portion), rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, Indalloy No. 53 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 67% Bi and 33% In (% by weight), Indalloy No. 1 from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 50% In and 50% Sn, Indalloy No. 290 available from Indium Corp.
  • Indalloy No. 9 from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 70% Sn, 18% Pb and 12% In, Indalloy No. 281 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 58% Bi and 42% Sn, Indalloy No. 206 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 60% Pb and 40% In, Indalloy No. 227 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 77.2% Sn, 20% In and 2.8 % Ag, Indalloy No. 2 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 80% In, 15% Pb and 5% Ag, Indalloy No. 3 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 90% In and 10% Ag, or any other suitable flexible organic or inorganic material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Joining Of Glass To Other Materials (AREA)
  • Securing Of Glass Panes Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A vaccum insulating glass (IG) unit. A plurality of substantially transparent sapphire or AL2O3 inclusive spacers or pillars are provided between the opposing glass substrates. The translucent characteristics of the spacers/pillars enable them to be more aesthetically pleasing, while at the same time being strong enough to support the opposing substrates and withstand the applicable forces of atmospheric pressure.

Description

VACUUM IG UNIT WITH TRANSPARENT SPACERS This invention relates to a vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit. More particularly, this invention relates to a vacuum IG unit including substantially transparent spacers.
RELATED APPLICATIONS Commonly owned U.S. Serial Nos. 09/303,550 entitled "VACUUM IG PILLAR
WITH DLC COATING" filed May 3, 1999; 09/404,659 filed September 24, 1999 entitled "VACUUM IG WINDOW UNIT WITH PERIPHERAL SEAL AT LEAST PARTIALLY
DIFFUSED AT TEMPER"; and 09/ filed November 16, 1999 entitled
"VACUUM IG WINDOW UNIT WITH FIBER SPACERS", are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vacuum IG units are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Patent Nos. 5,664,395, 5,657,607, 5,891 ,536 and 5,902.652, the disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. Prior art Figures 1 -2 illustrate a conventional vacuum IG unit. IG unit 1 includes two spaced apart sheets of glass 2 and 3 which enclose an evacuated or low pressure space 16 therebetween. Glass sheets 2 and 3 are interconnected by peripheral or edge seal of fused solder 4 and an array of support pillars 5.
Pump out tube 8 is sealed by solder glass 9 to an aperture or hole which passes from an interior surface of glass sheet 2 to the bottom of recess 11. A vacuum is attached to tube 8 (prior to the tube being sealed) so that the interior space 16 between sheets 2 and 3 can be evacuated to create a low pressure area. After evacuation, an end of tube 8 is melted to seal the vacuum in space 16. As illustrated in Figures 1 -2, spacers or pillars 5 are typically provided between the glass sheets 2 and 3 in the viewing area of the unit. As discussed in U.S. Patent No. 5,664,395, these spacers or pillars may be made of nickel, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, titanium, aluminum, steel or stainless alloys. Unfortunately, such metal spacers or pillars are substantially opaque to visible light, and thus may be considered an eyesore (i.e., aesthetically non-pleasing) to those viewing the window because they are scattered throughout the viewing zone.
It is also known to make such spacers or pillars of spherical glass beads, as discussed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,683,154. Unfortunately, glass bead spacers may be susceptible to breaking or cracking in certain instances and are undesirable for this reason alone.
Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of another conventional vacuum IG window unit. This unit differs from that of Figures 1 -2 in that the glass sheets of Fig. 3 are of different sizes, and edge seal 4 contacts an outer vertically extending periphery of one of the glass sheets. However, this unit suffers from the same problems as the unit of Figures 1 -2 as the spacers are the same.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a vacuum IG unit including spacers or pillars that are visible unobtrusive, substantially transparent to certain visible wavelengths of light, aesthetically pleasing, and/or of high strength. This invention will now be described with respect to certain embodiments thereof, accompanied by certain illustrations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide spacers or pillars that are substantially transparent to certain visible wavelengths of light, for use in a vacuum IG window unit. Another object of this invention is to provide aesthetically pleasing and high strength spacers or pillars in a vacuum IG window unit.
Another object of this invention is to provide sapphire inclusive spacers or pillars for a vacuum IG window unit. Another object of this invention is to provide AI2O3 inclusive spacers or pillars for a vacuum IG window unit.
Another object of this invention is to fulfill any and/or all of the above-listed objects and/or needs.
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills any or all of the above described objects or needs in the art by providing a thermally insulating glass panel comprising: first and second spaced apart glass substrates defining a low pressure space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure; a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second glass substrates for spacing said substrates from one another in order to maintain said low pressure space therebetween; a hermetic edge or peripheral seal including at least one sealing material; and wherein at least some of said spacers include sapphire so as to be substantially transparent to at least certain wavelengths of visible light.
In certain embodiments, at least some of said spacers are transparent to at least about 90% of visible light wavelengths.
IN THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a prior art side partial cross sectional view of a conventional vacuum IG window unit. Figure 2 is a top partial cross sectional view of the Figure 1 vacuum IG unit, absent the top glass substrate.
Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of another conventional vacuum IG window unit. Figure 4(a) is a side cross sectional view of a spacer or pillar according to an embodiment of this invention, this spacer or pillar being useable in any of the Figure 1-3 vacuum IG window units.
Figure 4(b) is a top plan view of the spacer or pillar of Figure 4(a).
Figure 5 is a side cross sectional view of a spacer or pillar according to another embodiment of this invention, this spacer or pillar being useable in any of the Figure 1 -3 vacuum IG window units.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION
Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Certain embodiments of this invention relate to spacers or pillars 5 for use in vacuum IG window units. In certain embodiments, the spacers or pillars 5 include sapphire or AI2O3. This enables the spacers or pillars to be substantially transparent to at least certain visible wavelengths of light, so that they are less visibly obtrusive than conventional opaque spacers. The spacers or pillars are, as in Figures 1 -3, located in the low pressure space 16 between the opposing substrates. Edges of the substrates are hermetically sealed by edge or peripheral seal 4 (e.g. see Figs. 1 -3). "Peripheral" and "edge" seals herein do not mean that the seals are located at the absolute periphery of the unit, but instead mean that the seal is at least partially located at or near (e.g. within about two inches) an edge of at least one substrate of the unit. Figures 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate an exemplary spacer or pillar 5 according to an embodiment of this invention. An array of such spacers or pillars 5 is to be provided in the low pressure space of the vacuum IG window unit(s) of any of Figures 1 -3. While Figs 4(a)-(b) illustrate a cylindrically-shaped spacer or pillar 5, in other embodiments of this invention the spacers/pillars may take different shapes. For example, Figure 5 illustrates a rectangular shaped spacer/pillar. Because interior space 16 between the opposing substrates is at a pressure lower or less than atmospheric in general, this type of panel is often referred to as a vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit.
Vacuum IG units according to different embodiments of this invention may be used as residential or commercial windows. The evacuation of space 16 eliminates or reduces heat transport between glass substrates 2 and 3 due to gaseous conduction and convection. In addition, radiative heat transport between glass sheets 2 and 3 can be reduced to a low level by providing a low emittance (low-E) coating(s) 6 on a surface of one or both of sheets 2, 3. High levels of thermal insulation can thus be achieved. Low gaseous thermal conduction may be achieved when the pressure in space 16 is reduced to a level equal to or below about 0.5 x 10~3 Torr, more preferably below about 0.1 mTorr, or 10"4 Torr, and most preferably below about 10"δ Torr of atmospheric pressure. The hermetic sealing system(s) 4, including one or more edge seals, substantially eliminates any ingress or outgress of gas or air to/from low pressure space 16.
Referring to Figures 1 -5, the array of spacers or pillars 5 is provided between substrates 2 and 3 in order to maintain separation of the two approximately parallel glass sheets against atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, each pillar may have a height of from about 0.10 to 0.60 mm. Spacers or pillars 5 may take any suitable shape, including those of Figures 4-5. For examples, spacers or pillars 5 may be spherical, cylindrical, square, rectangular, rod-like, bead-like, oval, trapezoidal, or the like. Moreover, in other embodiments, spacers/pillars 5 may be shaped as illustrated in any embodiment of U.S. Patent No. 5,891 ,536.
In certain embodiments, all spacers / pillars 5 are of approximately the same size and/or material. However, in other embodiments, there may be different sizes of spacers 5 in the same vacuum IG unit. In certain embodiments, the density of spacers (i.e., the number of spacers per unit area) may be greater in certain areas than in other areas, or alternatively, the density of the spacers may be approximately uniform throughout the entire unit. In preferred embodiments of this invention, spacers or pillars 5 include monocrystalline sapphire or AI2O3 having a hexagonal crystal structure. In other embodiments, spacers or pillars 5 consist essentially of monocrystalline sapphire or AI2O3 having a hexagonal crystal structure. Sapphire (which includes substantial portions of AI2O3) is of high strength (i.e., can withstand the atmospheric pressure applied inwardly on the opposing substrates 2, 3) and is substantially transparent (i.e., at least 80% transparent) to many wavelengths of visible light. More preferably, spacers 5 are transparent to at least about 90% (most preferably at least about 95%) of visible light wavelengths. Moreover, spacers/pillars 5 in certain embodiments have a hardness of at least about 7 M (MOHS), more preferably of at least about 9 MOHS (the hardness of sapphire is approximately 9 MOHS). Alternatively, spacers/pillars 5 preferably have a hardness of at least about 2,500 Vickers, more preferably from about 2,500-3,000 Vickers. The sapphire of the spacers may have a density of about 3.90 to 4.00 gm/cm3 in certain embodiments.
Therefore, sapphire inclusive spacers or pillars 5 are visibly unobtrusive, and more aesthetically pleasing than conventional opaque spacers/pillars. Their translucent properties, similar to a single alumina crystal, and the purity of sapphire, allow the diffusion transmission of a large portion (all in certain embodiments) of visible wavelengths of light (compared to opaque metal and ceramic pillars). Background illumination conditions, both day and night, will thus alter the tint of spacers / pillars 5 to a shade or tint more closely matched to the background itself (i.e., the background is the area behind a vacuum IG window unit which a viewer is looking at through the window), so that the spacers blend in with the surrounding environment more easily and are not easy to see with the naked eye from three or more feet away.
In certain alternative embodiments of this invention, spacers / pillars 5 may instead include or be made of quartz, mica, or any other suitable material.
In certain embodiments of this invention, hermetic edge sealing material 4 may be made of or include any of the following materials: solder glass, indium, Ostalloy 313- 4, 99% indium (In) wire available from Arconium (Providence, Rl), liquid glass (i.e. glass composition with water in it when applied, wherein the water evaporates when heated to form the seal portion), rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, Indalloy No. 53 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 67% Bi and 33% In (% by weight), Indalloy No. 1 from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 50% In and 50% Sn, Indalloy No. 290 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 97% In and 3% Ag, Indalloy No. 9 from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 70% Sn, 18% Pb and 12% In, Indalloy No. 281 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 58% Bi and 42% Sn, Indalloy No. 206 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 60% Pb and 40% In, Indalloy No. 227 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 77.2% Sn, 20% In and 2.8 % Ag, Indalloy No. 2 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 80% In, 15% Pb and 5% Ag, Indalloy No. 3 available from Indium Corp. in paste form having a composition of 90% In and 10% Ag, or any other suitable flexible organic or inorganic material.
Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications, and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such other features, modifications, and improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:
1 A thermally insulating glass panel comprising: first and second spaced apart glass substrates defining a low pressure space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure; a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second glass substrates for spacing said substrates from one another in order to maintain said low pressure space therebetween; a hermetic edge or peripheral seal including at least one sealing material; and wherein at least some of said spacers include sapphire so as to be substantially transparent to at least certain wavelengths of visible light.
2. The glass panel of claim 1 , wherein said at least some of said spacers are transparent to at least about 90% of visible light wavelengths.
3. The glass panel of claim 1 , wherein said at least some of said spacers include by weight at least about 90% AI2O3
4 The glass panel of claim 3, wherein said at least some of said spacers include by weight at least about 95% AI2O3.
5. The glass panel of claim 4, wherein said at least some of said spacers include by weight at least about 98% AI2O3.
6. The glass panel of claim 1 , wherein said spacers are approximately cylindrical in shape.
7 The glass panel of claim 1 , wherein said spacers have an approximately circular cross section when viewed from above
8. A thermally insulating panel comprising first and second spaced apart substrates defining a space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second substrates for spacing said substrates from one another, wherein at least one of said spacers includes monocrystalline AI2O3
9 The panel of claim 8, wherein said at least one spacer is transparent to at least about 90% of visible light wavelengths
10 The panel of claim 9, wherein said at least one spacer includes by weight at least about 90% AI2O3
1 1 The panel of claim 10, wherein said at least one spacer includes by weight at least about 95% AI2O3
12 A thermally insulating panel comprising first and second spaced apart substrates defining a space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second substrates for spacing said substrates from one another, wherein at least one of said spacers consists essentially of monocrystalline sapphire having a hexagonal crystal structure
13 A thermally insulating panel comprising first and second spaced apart substrates defining a space therebetween having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and a plurality of spacers disposed between said first and second substrates for spacing said substrates from one another, wherein at least one of said spacers is substantially transparent to at least some visible light wavelengths and has a hardness of at least about 7 MOHS.
14. The panel of claim 13, wherein said at least one spacer includes sapphire, and is substantially transparent to at least about 90% of visible light wavelengths.
15. The panel of claim 13, wherein said at least one spacer has a hardness of at least about 9 MOHS.
PCT/US2000/033128 1999-12-10 2000-12-07 Vacuum ig unit with transparent spacers WO2001042611A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001544468A JP5046460B2 (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-07 Vacuum insulated glass unit with transparent spacer
AU19513/01A AU1951301A (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-07 Vacuum ig unit with transparent spacers
DE10085277T DE10085277B4 (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-07 Thermally insulating glass unit
DK200200878A DK176620B1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-06-10 Vacuum IG unit with transparent spacers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/458,670 US6352749B1 (en) 1999-12-10 1999-12-10 Vacuum IG unit with transparent spacers
US09/458,670 1999-12-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001042611A1 true WO2001042611A1 (en) 2001-06-14

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US (1) US6352749B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5046460B2 (en)
AU (1) AU1951301A (en)
DE (1) DE10085277B4 (en)
DK (1) DK176620B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001042611A1 (en)

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US6478911B1 (en) 2000-09-27 2002-11-12 Guardian Industries Corp. Vacuum IG window unit with edge seal formed via microwave curing, and corresponding method of making the same
CA2411268A1 (en) * 2000-06-14 2002-12-10 Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Glass panel
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DK176620B1 (en) 2008-11-24
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JP5046460B2 (en) 2012-10-10
US6352749B1 (en) 2002-03-05
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DE10085277B4 (en) 2007-06-14
DE10085277T1 (en) 2002-12-12

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